Download Pied Oystercatcher fact sheet

THREATENED SPECIES INFORMATION
Pied Oystercatcher
Haematopus longirostris
Other common names None
The Pied Oystercatcher is listed as a
Vulnerable Species on the New South
Wales Threatened Species Conservation
Act, 1995 (TSC Act).
Description
Length
480 – 520mm
Bill
50 – 80mm
This species has a distinct clear
penetrating ‘he-eep’ or single repeated
‘pic’ call, mainly in flight. During
courtship and display a chorus of
‘kervee-kervee-kervee’ that may end in
a low trilling may be used by both
sexes.
Distribution
With their bright pied plumage (i.e.
black and white), Pied Oystercatchers
are a distinct large species of
shorebird. Their upper parts including
the head, wings and tail are black, with
a contrasting white breast and undertail. This coloration is contrasted with
a bright red to orange-red eye, bill and
legs. The male and female show little
differentiation except that the males
generally sport a shorter, wider beak.
Immatures have a more brownishblack plumage, with grey-brown legs
and a bill with a darkish brown tip.
The Pied Oystercatcher has a thinly
scattered
distribution
throughout
Australia, where it prefers sandy
beaches and sandy-shored estuaries.
Recorded
occurrences
in
conservation reserves in the South
Coast Region
Eurobodalla NP, Mimosa Rocks NP,
Bournda NP, Ben Boyd NP, Nadgee
Nature Reserve, Murramarang NP,
Narrawallee Creek NR, Booderee NP.
Habitat
The Pied Oystercatcher prefers sandy
beaches and estuaries. Pairs usually
occupy one territory during the
breeding season and defend this
aggressively from other individuals.
During the non-breeding season pairs
can disperse and large, noisy groups of
non-breeding birds can gather at
suitable feeding sites along the coast.
Above: Pied Oystercatcher adult. Photo Mike Jarman
Ecology
residential, agricultural and tourism
developments.
Hydrological changes to estuaries
and similar water bodies causing
modification or removal of
important areas of suitable habitat.
Inundation of nest sites by king
tides, waves, storm surges and
rising lake levels.
Contrary to their name, Pied
Oystercatchers seldom eat oysters.
Instead they usually feed on bivalve
molluscs and also invertebrates found
along sandy beaches and within
estuaries. Their prey is prised apart
with a specially adapted bill, with the
opening technique suggested to be
learned from their parents.
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The breeding population on the South
Coast of NSW is estimated to be
approximately 50 pairs.
Management
Pied Oystercatchers breed during the
spring/summer months from August to
January. Two to three eggs are laid
into a ‘scrape’, a shallow depression in
the sand, located well above the high
tide mark. Eggs are incubated for 2832 days by both sexes, and chicks
fledge within 5 to 9 weeks. Nests and
chicks are aggressively defended with
loud calls, directional flights and
‘injured wing’ distraction displays.
Pairs exhibit high site and mate
fidelity.
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Threats
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Disturbance to foraging and
nesting habitat by beach-goers,
dogs, horse riders and vehicles
driving along beaches. This can
result in disruptions to incubation,
chick feeding, and trampling or
destruction of eggs and chicks.
Predation of eggs and chicks by
introduced and native predators
such as foxes, dogs, cats, ravens
and raptors.
Entanglement in discarded fishing
tackle, mainly fishing line and
hooks, which can lead to serious
injuries and mortality of adults and
chicks
Habitat
destruction
and
modifications as a result of coastal
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Protection of known breeding
habitat, including implementing
habitat
protection
zones
surrounding nest sites.
Erection of habitat protection
measures such as fences and
signage surrounding nest sites,
particularly those located on
high-use beaches or estuaries.
Monitoring nest sites to
determine
outcomes
and
establish baseline data for this
species
Undertaking a community
educational program to raise
awareness
of
threatened
shorebird species found along
the South Coast.
Controlling
introduced
predators, particularly foxes,
surrounding shorebird habitat.
Coordinate a volunteer program
to help with the conservation of
this species.
References
Jorgensen and Dunn (2008). South Coast Shorebird
Recovery Program Report. NSW NPWS.
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (Eds) (1993). Handbook
of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds.
Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings. Oxford University
Press, Melbourne.
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2003). The Field Guide to
the Birds of Australia 7th Edition. Menkhorst, P. (ed).
HarperCollins.
Pringle, J.D. (1987) The Shorebirds of Australia,
Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
For further information contact NPWS South Coast Shorebird Coordinators Ulladulla (02 44549500) & Narooma (0244
760888) or visit http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au